Local Arts

In 1996, the arts scene in the Gibsons area was a mere shadow of today's vibrant activity. Yet the Coast had become home to hundreds of artists and artisans, and their presence attracted tourists, as local businesses were discovering.

Imagine keeping up a correspondence that lasts more than 50 years. It's a certain kind of love - a connection between two people that begins with simple notes exchanged in class and runs throughout their adult lives, lasting beyond death.

A weekend of music once again rippled across Pender Harbour as the sixth annual Chamber Music Festival opened last Friday (Aug. 20) under the artistic direction of Alexander Tselyakov.

Three days, seven art galleries - all in Gibsons Landing - with the opening reception of this year's Art Stroll on Aug. 18 at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) - all fantastic.

Delhi 2 Dublin returns to the Sunshine Coast, on Friday night, Sept. 3 at 8:30 p.m.

Choral singing doesn't come any better than this. Brilliant Harmony, 18 Japanese women aged 20 to 36, fully merited their name Aug. 14. Directed by Ko Matsushita, this concert electrified about 80 listeners at St. Bart's Church.

Get your tickets early for what promises to be one of the top concerts to hit the Sunshine Coast this year. Sailors and Songs - A Musical Tribute to 100 Years is not until Sept.

The 28th annual Festival of the Written Arts offered good advice to fellow writers, food for thought to readers and a lot of zingy one-liners to make us all laugh.

The Rakish Angles, a well known and exciting local group of excellent musicians playing instrumental old time/Latin/Gypsy/ bluegrass, have just been nominated for the Western Canadian Music Award Instrumental Album of the Year.

Editor's note: The Coast String Fiddlers (CSF) are in Aberdeen, Scotland for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Parent chaperone Kathy Wood and some of the participants have been updating Coast Reporter readers of their trip.